Taking A Bite Out Of Crime In Madison

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MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) Four legs, teeth and a bark that sends chills down the back of even the most determined criminal.

In Madison, four-year-old “Gunny,” a veteran in dog years, and his handler officer Jason Bolden take fighting crime seriously. For the past three years the team has worked together to take a bite out of crime, literally taking down criminals and locating large amounts of narcotics. But Gunny is sick and being forced to retire from fighting crime. The loss of Gunny leaves Madison PD without a K-9, but that is quickly changing.

The department is about to enlist three new dogs onto the force. They are beefing up the unit that will now provide K-9 service on every shift 24 hours a day.

The three new dogs and their handlers will go through training together, until they are ready to hit the beat, Gunny and his handler officer Bolden will answer calls for help.

Officers have a message for crooks trying to do business in Madison. “They (the dogs) are there to get you, we got them out on the roads, once these new dogs are up and trained, they are going to catch you,” Beard added.

Private donations from the community will cover the cost of two of the dogs, and a big portion of the budget will come from federal drug fighting grants.

Gunny will live out the rest of his life at home with officer Bolden and his family.